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CHILDREN are being urged to get off their feet and move to funky musical beats to achieve a healthier lifestyle as part of the latest international exercise craze which fitness entrepreneurs hope to introduce to schools across the kingdom.
Born To Move is a series of movement-based classes that combine fun and music to motivate youngsters of all ages into developing positive physical habits to keep them fit and they have already proven a success at City Centre Bahrain’s annual summer camp.
Anna Gibson, 39, a Reps Fitness Studios personal trainer and group exercise instructor, has already put 150 of the mall’s camp kids through their paces in recent weeks.
She said: “In this day and age, there is a rise in unhealthy eating habits and coupled with modern interests in PC games and iPads, there is less play and physical activity going on. Not just in Bahrain, but worldwide.
“The benefit is that children will get fitter and healthier doing Born to Move and it will get them to enjoy exercise. Hopefully we can help bring down obesity and diabetes levels in Bahrain and improve the health and lives of the younger generation.”
During the camp last Thursday afternoon children, aged between four and 12, ran, jumped and followed in Anna’s footsteps as she choreographed an hour of fast-paced moves that kept the youngsters smiling and perhaps more importantly, sweating throughout.
She said: “Each age category has music and moves suitable for that age group. For example, for two- to five- year-olds, it’s all about imagination and play. In the older categories, it’s much about more funky music.
“The idea is to use combat tracks, dance tracks, yoga tracks, games and jump tracks to get the children hooked on exercise.
“We want them to fall in love with exercise at a young age so they can continue with it as they grow up. The class improves cardio fitness, balance, agility, strength and flexibility. Old or young, people need to eat healthily the majority of the time, plus get active doing a sport, or an exercise they enjoy, so they are more likely to stick with it.
“We are planning on running Born To Move kid’s classes in schools across Bahrain.”
The course was first created in New Zealand by LesMills, a fitness group known for its brand of exercise-to-music programmes around the world. There are established classes for kids aged two to three, four to five, six to seven, eight to 12 and a class for 13- to 16-year-olds.
After being launched and picked up in the US last year, it’s now being unveiled in the UK and the Middle East with Bahrain being the first in the region to offer the expressive, energetic and entertaining sessions at Reps Fitness Studios in Juffair.
The gym is affiliated with the LesMills brand, offering a variety of its programmes from power and strength building to high-energy athletic training.
According to LesMills, the programme will help children live an active, healthy life by improving their cardiovascular fitness, reduce the risk of diseases and develop muscles. It is said to also build their self-esteem by mastering new skills in a group and the increase in confidence and energy that comes from the classes is the ideal way to enhance enjoyment and performance in other areas of their lives.
For children aged two and three, parents or carers also get involved in the 30-45 minute sessions. The music is written for the class with lyrics that act as sung instructions, leading children through simple moves that build body awareness and balance. The emphasis is on fun as kids develop awareness of their bodies.
Children aged four and five have more effective control over movements and vivid imaginations. Their class of 45-55 minutes is written to involve them in the narrative. They develop self-awareness, balance and weight transfer and concentration skills while learning how to interpret music and move to a beat.
The six-to-seven years class introduces fundamental movement skills using fun rather than formal exercise routines and the eight-to-12s learn various moves from dance, martial arts and yoga. The class includes music and games to keep things interesting while the class members develop fitness skills. The class for teenagers draws from the disciplines of martial arts, hip hop, sports conditioning, plyometrics, dance and yoga.
For further details contact 77377348 and visit www.respfit.com
